Dyspareunia

Dyspareunia, or pain with sexual intercourse, is unfortunately common among women. The causes that can contribute to discomfort include sexual arousal disorders, vaginal atrophy (common after menopause), effects of prior sexual trauma, pelvic muscle dysfunction and spasm, and structural abnormalities of the female reproductive system, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or ovarian cysts. Since the […]

Pessary care

A pessary is a silicone device that is helpful as a conservative treatment for vaginal prolapse. These come in various sizes and shapes, and can be fitted by a medical provider to hold up prolapsing areas of the vagina. For some women, whether by personal preference or medical necessity, this proves to be a better […]

Pelvic organ prolapse

Weakness in the pelvic muscle floor can lead to prolapse. Symptoms include vaginal bulging or pressure, difficulty emptying the bladder completely or experiencing frequent urinary tract infections, and difficulty passing bowel movements (sometimes requiring pressure in the vagina from a finger in order to pass). Prolapse treatments can vary from special pelvic exercises or physical […]

Interstitial cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic painful bladder condition thought to be caused by a type of autoimmune inflammation. Symptoms include bladder and pelvic pain or pressure and a frequent urge to urinate. Symptoms are often mistaken for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) or endometriosis. Sometimes women will experience chronic pelvic pain and pain with sex […]

Overactive bladder

Overactive bladder is a condition in which the bladder muscle contracts frequently, triggering the sensation of the urge to urinate. This can be caused or worsened by various bladder irritants in the diet, by aging, by nerve dysfunction, or unknown causes. Sometimes it also results in involuntary leakage of urine. This is a condition that […]

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control. Leaking urine is a common problem for women, and it can happen to anyone but is more common with age. For some, symptoms are so severe that they significantly restrict their activities to avoid embarrassing accidents. Most bladder control problems happen when muscles are too weak or […]